Top News:
Blake Brittain / Reuters:
Filing: OpenAI asks a US federal judge to dismiss parts of NYT's copyright suit, alleging it “paid someone to hack OpenAI's products” and violated OpenAI's TOS — OpenAI has asked a federal judge to dismiss parts of the New York Times (NYT.N) copyright lawsuit against it …
Samantha Cole / 404 Media:
Internal docs: Tumblr staff compiled users' data in preparation for deals where Automattic would sell the data to OpenAI and Midjourney to train AI tools — Join the newsletter to get the latest updates. — Success — Great! Check your inbox and click the link. — Error
Discussion:
The Verge, @michellemanafy@journa.host, @rahaeli.bsky.social, @rahaeli.bsky.social, @scottandrew@xoxo.zone, @wonkeythemonkey …, @404mediaco@mastodon.social, @mitten@social.lol, @bedirthan@dice.camp, @proprietor@wandering.shop, @paulknightly@mstdn.social, @Thorin@mastodon.social, @jasonkoebler@mastodon.social, @theomegabit@infosec.exchange, @danilo@hachyderm.io, @ipstenu@tech.lgbt, Cassandraic and just like a centipede!, more at Techmeme »
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Sources: WBD is no longer pursuing a merger with Paramount, Skydance is doing due diligence, and Comcast is exploring commercial partnerships with Paramount — - Warner Bros. Discovery is no longer pursuing a merger with Paramount Global as its shares trade near a 52-week low, according to people familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
IndieWire, The Streamable, The Desk, The Wrap, The Hill, New York Post, NewscastStudio, Forbes, Reuters, Alex Sherman on LinkedIn, @lucas_shaw, NBC 7 San Diego and Cord Cutters News
Sara Fischer / Axios:
The FT launches a venture arm to invest in media and tech startups, starting with $1M for Charter, a media and insights company focused on the workplace — - The company has made several strategic minority investments to date, including one in the Business of Fashion.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News
Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
Imax reports Q4 revenue of $86M, vs. $89.59M est., down 12% from Q4 2022, when Imax experienced a rapid reopening of cinemas in China, and net income of $2.5M — Overall quarterly revenue came to $86 million, down 12 percent from a year-earlier $98 million, as 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Deadline and Yahoo Finance
Antenna:
Among premium SVODs, US subscriber growth fell from 21.6% YoY in 2022 to 10.1% YoY in 2023; 140.5M cancelled their subscriptions in 2023 vs. 104.3M in 2022 — The headlines suggesting that the boom times are over for streaming video have been unavoidable.
Discussion:
IndieWire, MediaPost, Media Play News and Reuters
Alexis Ong / The Verge:
A look at the underground floppy disk music scene; Discogs data shows 500+ floppy music releases in the 2020s, more than in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s combined — The first computery thing I do in the year 2024 is nudge a 3.5-inch floppy disk into a USB floppy drive that I bought …
Jem Aswad / Variety:
TikTok removes all songs published by Universal Music Publishing Group, expanding a licensing spat; at first only songs owned or distributed by UMG were removed — The bruising battle over royalties between Universal Music Group and TikTok entered a new and more severe stage in the early hours …
Discussion:
Billboard, TechCrunch, Reuters, Rolling Stone, The Ankler, Music Ally, CMU, Music Business Worldwide and Digital Music News, more at Techmeme »
Ben Strauss / Washington Post:
Authentic says it has recouped its ~$90M SI purchase via licensing; sources: SI has 1M print subs, breaks even, and Minute Media is a potential new publisher — LAS VEGAS — “This is Sports Illustrated, the party!” the DJ yelled. “Tonight is going to be legendary.”
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
Docs: Google is paying a handful of independent publishers a five-figure sum for one year to use an unreleased suite of generative AI tools to post stories — In exchange for a five-figure sum, publishers must use the tool to publish 3 stories per day — Google launched a private program …
Wes Davis / The Verge:
Netflix confirms that it has started removing Apple iTunes billing for longtime subscribers, and now requires them to pay directly on its website — Netflix confirms to The Verge that it has begun booting longtime subscribers off their Apple iTunes billing plans, and will require …
Discussion:
The Wrap, BGR, CNN, Cord Cutters News, 9to5Mac and The Streamable, more at Techmeme »
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Digital TV ad service Madhive launches a marketplace for political and issue advertisers to buy CTV ads; Fox Television Stations is its first major client — - Connected TV also offers campaigns more video inventory to target voters when local broadcasters run out of space.
Congress Editor, DC — 
China Night News Reporter, London — 
Senior Reporter, DC — 
Transcription Copy Editor - Opinion, CA — 
Part-time Editor, Remote — 
Home & Travel Reporter - Ireland — 
Weather Reporter, MA — 
South Reporter, GA/Remote — 
Awards Specials Editor, CA — 
Middle East Editor, Remote — 
Arts Editor, London — 
Deputy Tech Ed. - CNBC, CA — 
Reporter - Police Beat, OR — 
National Tech Reporter — 
Articles Editor, CA — 
Harrisburg Reporter, PA — 
Higher Ed. Reporter, Remote CA — 
Alabama Reporter, AL — 
Tech Reporter, CA — 
Digital Editor, DC — 
Deputy Editor - Investigations, NY — 
Senior Writer - Biotech, Remote — 
Business Reporter, TX — 
News Correspondent, MS — 
Accountability Reporter, NC — 
Freelance Reporter - L.A. Education, CA — 
Associate Editor, London — 
Copy & Weekend Editor, NH — 
Political Reporter, TX — 
Staff Writer, MA/Remote — 
Economic Mobility Reporter, FL — 
Reporter - Skift Meetings, Remote — 
Reporter, NC — 
